Lois Janet Schmidt

Lois Janet Schmidt, the youngest child of Percy and Hazel F. Dewey Blair, was born April 29, 1934 in Bosworth, Missouri and died January 20, 2010 at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 75 years, 8 months, and 21 days.
Lois was one of four children having two sisters and one brother. Her family moved to Harlan, Iowa where she graduated from high school in 1952.
On August 6, 1952, she married Duane E. Schmidt at the Methodist Church in Harlan. Together they farmed in Guthrie County where they started their family. In 1957, they moved to Audubon. They built a new home in 1960, where they spent their married life. Lois was the bookkeeper for the Schmidt Masonry Contracting for several years, then Lois worked at the Audubon Exira Ready Mix for a few more years before becoming a fulltime wife and mother.
Lois attended the Methodist Church in her youth and after her marriage to Duane, was baptized and confirmed at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in rural Audubon. Later, Duane and Lois joined Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. Lois became an active member teaching Sunday School and Bible School, for many years, working with the womens organization, chairing several committees, attending Womens Circle, and serving on the altar guild.
Lois was also an active member of the Audubon County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, holding numerous offices at various times. She enjoyed playing cards and was a member of various card clubs throughout her life. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed traveling internationally and throughout the United States.
Lois was first and foremost a devoted wife and mother. She enjoyed life with her best friend and love, Duane. She maintained two homes for more than 40 years---one in Audubon and one in Lake View where she loved being at the lake and she passed that love on to her children, grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Lois loved celebrating birthdays and Holidays with all of her family members. Each new family member was a new celebration as family was her life.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her sister Dorothy and husband Herbert Sorensen and her brother-in-law James Hockett.
Survivors include her husband Duane E. Schmidt of Audubon, IA; her children: Joan and Gary Fancher; Daniel and Christine Schmidt all of Audubon; Terry Schmidt of Atlantic, IA; Dean and Julie Schmidt of Audubon; nine grandchildren: Brooke and Jerod Burns of Kellogg, IA; Justin and Katy Fancher of Grimes, IA; Cara and Chad Rasmus of Ankeny, IA; Benjamin and Jenny Schmidt of Polk City, IA; Allison Schmidt; Bradley Schmidt both of Ames; Leslie Roseboom of Grand Forks, ND; Michael Schmidt and Taylor Roseboom, both of Audubon: five great- grandchildren: Beau Burns, Brock Fancher, Caden Rasmus, Mayci Rasmus, and Eliza Schmidt; her sister Arletha Hockett of Tennant, IA; her brother Robert and Lois Jean Blair of Council Bluffs, IA; her sisters-in-law: Sherrin and Lyle Klacsan of Minnesota and Phyllis and Tom Kelley of Lake View, IA; nieces, nephews, many other family members and friends.
She will be missed by all who knew her.

Cemetery:
Interment will be held in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
Family will meet with friends Sunday, January 24, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be held Monday, January 25, 2010 at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Audubon.